cummings



1956 v. c. CUMMINGS METAL CHRISTMAS TREE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 25,1953 zlrzys ATTORNEYS 1N VEN TOR. 6 611mm Feb. 28, 1956 Filed June 25,1953 v. c. CUMMINGS METAL. CHRISTMAS TREE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS nited States Patent METAL CHRISTMAS TREE Viola C. Cummings,Miami, Fla.

Application June 23, 1953, Serial No. 363,529

4 Claims. (Cl. 41-15) This invention relates to an ornamental article,and more particularly to a method of and means for'producing a Christmastree. 7

The object of the invention is to provide a method of and means forproducing a highly ornamental Christmas tree from an emptly tin can.

Another object of the invention is to provide a Christmas tree which canbe made from metal or tin cans of any size, the finished articleincluding a plurality of limbs that are each adapted to support acandle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a Christmas tree whichis extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of thefollowing description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and inwhich like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout thesame:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an empty tin can for use in making theChristmas tree of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the first step in forming theChristmas tree from the empty tin can.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the next step in forming theChristmas tree.

Figure 4 is an elevational view showing the next step in the formationof the Christmas tree.

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the next step in making theChristmas tree.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the finished Christmas tree made fromthe empty tin can.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates an emptytin can from which the top has been removed to leave an open end 12. Thetin can 10 may have been used originally for holding vegetables, fruits,foodstuffs, and the like. The can 10 includes the usual annular sidewall 11.

According to the present invention the used or empty tin can 10 isutilized to form a Christmas tree 18 as shown in Figure 6. To form theChristmas tree 18 from the empty tin can 10, a slit or cut is first madein the side wall 11 and the slit 15 is made right alongside the seam 14.The seam 14 is the location or place at which the can is initiallyclosed during the formation thereof.

The next step in forming the Christmas tree 18 is to make an annular outbetween the side wall 11 and the base or end 17 and this cut isindicated by the numeral 16, this step being shown in Figure 3. It willbe noted that after the cut 16 has been made the side wall 11 still remains attached at one end to the vertical portion or upright 14 for apurpose to be later described.

The next step in the formation of the Christmas tree is shown in Figure4 wherein the side wall 11 is cut or provided with a plurality of slits19 which define therebetween strips 20. The strips 20 are each wound ortwisted as at 22 about a removable core 21, and the core 21 may be a rodor Wire. After the strips have been twisted as at 22 about the core 21,the core 21 is re- "ice moved and then the twisted strips are bent toprovide limbs of the tree as shown in Figure 6. The free end of each ofthe limbs may be shaped to provide an annular flange or collar 23 and acandle 24 may be snugly seated in each of the collars 23. Thus, a highlyornamental Christmas tree 18 is provided and such Christmas tree can bereadily made from tin cans such as the tin can 10 which are usuallydiscarded.

From the foregoing it is apparent that a method of and means has beenprovided for making a metal Christmas tree from tin cans of varioussizes. The Christmas tree is made from empty tin cans after the contentshave been used or removed and in making the Christmas trees after thetop has been removed it is only necessary to cut down along the seam 14as indicated by the numeral 15 in Figure 2 from the top to the bottom ofthe can. Then from this opened side of the can, a cut 16 is made betweenthe side wall 11 and the bottom 17 around to the other side of the seamas shown in Figure 3. The bottom 17 becomes the standing base and thensmall strips or bands 20 are cut of any desired width from the free endof the side Wall 11 to the seam 14. Any number of these strips 20 may becut. These strips or bands 20 are then wound around the core which maybe a steel rod 21 to provide curled limbs and a suitable candle can beplaced in the upper end of each of the curled limbs. The limbs can bebent as desired to form the tree of candles.

I claim:

1. A method of making an ornamental Christmas tree from an empty tin canhaving an open end and a closed end, comprising the steps of firstmaking a vertical cut in the annular side wall of the can, then makingan annular cut between the side wall and the closed end of the can toprovide a side wall attached to the seam of the can, said seam beingsecured to the closed end and extending in a vertical direction, saidclosed end defining a base, next cutting a plurality of spaced parallelstrips in the side wall, then twisting each of the strips around aremovable core, and bending the twisted strips to provide limbs.

2. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the upper ends of saidlimbs provide supports for candles.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a metal Christmas tree fabricatedfrom an empty tin can of cylindrical shape that has been emptied of itscontents, and comprising a horizontally disposed base, said base beingcircular, an upright portion extending upwardly from said base andsecured thereto, said upright portion being the seam of the tin canformed at the place where the can is initially closed during formationthereof, and a plurality of twisted limbs extending from one side ofsaid upright portion, each of said limbs being in the shape of acylindrical spiral and each including a substantially horizontal portionand a substantially vertical portion, the upper ends of said limbs beingopen to provide supports for candles.

4. In a method of making an ornamental Christmas tree from an empty tincan of cylindrical shape having an open end and a closed end, said tincan having been emptied of its regular contents, said can including alongitudinally extending seam at the place at which the can is initiallyclosed during the formation thereof, the steps of first making alongitudinal cut in the annular side wall of the can, said cut beingmade right alongside said seam, then making an annular cut between theside wall and the closed end of the can to provide a side wall having anend attached to the seam of the can,

said seam being secured to the closed end and extending in a verticaldirection, said seam being arranged at right angles to said base, saidclosed end defining a base of circular shape, next cutting a pluralityof spaced parallel longitudinally extending strips in the side wall,said strips terminating short of said seam, then twisting each of thestrips around a removable core to form a hollow spiral, and bending thetwisted strips to provide limbs, portions of said limbs extending in asubstantially horizontal direction and portions of the limbs extendingin a vertical References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATESPATENTS Royle Dec. 24, 1940 Stratman Sept. 8, 1953

